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K J M Varma in Islamabad
Pakistan has said it would consider extraditing 20 terrorists wanted by India provided New Delhi gave evidence against them and took recourse under SAARC Anti-Terrorism Convention.
"We can consider the extradition of these persons, only after India meets all the legal conditions," Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar told Pakistan reporters in Kathmandu on Tuesday night.
He said to meet the legal requirements for the extradition, India will have to make a case against each listed person in its own courts, provide evidence that would help indict these persons and ask for extradition under SAARC Anti Terrorism Convention.
Sattar, who is attending the SAARC Foreign Ministers Conference in Kathmandu, said India could invoke the right of extradition after completing the proper procedures and providing the evidence, Pakistan daily The Nation reported.
Reacting to queries on the list of 20 terrorists wanted by India, the foreign minister said the issue of their extradition should be seen as a legal and not a political one.
"India should first fulfil all the requirements and conditions for extradition of wanted people. Then it should clarify as under which law it calls for extradition of the people from Pakistan," he said, adding New Delhi had not so for justified its request for extradition.
"We cannot hand over any person to India until it justifies the extradition," he said.
"It is a legal matter and needs justification for implementation. Why the Indians did not put Masood Azhar on trial when he had been in Indian jails for five years?" Sattar asked adding allegations against the Jaish chief were not new.
Sattar, however, said Pakistan would consider the request and extradite the wanted persons if they were 'genuinely' required for the prosecution.
His remarks followed reports that the SAARC Standing Committee which met in Kathmandu during the last two days in the run up to the Summit beginning January 4, recommended improvements to the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Convention signed in 1987.
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